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i' !

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

CENTRAL EXPERLAIENTAL FAR^[

OTTAWA, CANADA

BUI. CTilTII^s :N^o. 30

TOBACCO CULTURE

AfRlL, 18138

I'VHI.ISIIKII liV llIUK( I ION Ol' THK IfON S\|iNKV A. Fl>HKM, ^riMSIKK Ol AiUilcLI. rt'RK

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To the Honourable

The Minister of Agriculture.
Sir_I beg to submit for your approval LiuUetin No. 30 of the
Experimental Farm series prepared by myself.

-[he rapid increase during the past few years m the aiea o lan-l

.k-voted to the growing of tobacco in Canada has rcsuhed m a

2 latll^d for inforn.ation on this subjeet, -d nnny UK^nnes

tive been made bv correspondents at tlie Lentral harm for pai-

Ucu as relating to this industry. Under your n.struct.ons and

h the view 0I meeting this den.and, the Bulletin now subnn c-d

been prepared, giving the results of the expene..e o v^ac .^^^^^

,nen who have bee.) engaged in tobacco grown.g for .an >ea^.^

I trust the facts presented will be found nf value t._. those

seeking information on this subject.

I have the honour to be

Your obedient servant,

WM. SAUNDElvS,
Director Expenmental Farms.

Ottawa. April 3th. 1808.

T()i;.\('('() ci i;ri UK

lll'nnn S,ni,i'/'r.^, /./../>.. /'./,'.>'.. / '. /. . >'. , .t'>

I »ll;i I'liil; r!\ l'Ki:iMl- A i.\l l''.\i;*l.-.

I ho Mibjitiiiicf Iviiuwii a> Uibaci'u cuiisisi.^ ui tin- Icaws or a
iiarculic plain, a native ui SmUh America, belonging {•> the ovdtv
Sti/tiuthii and known li> Itntanisis as Xhc'iciiiii J ii/'!i<iiiii. Its
nse is more general ami witlely spread than that of an\- other
narcotic or stinnilant ; it is largely niamnai'tured for smoking, is
also i)repared tor chewing, and is nsed to a more limited extent as
Mmtt. Specimens of this plant were iir>t hronght to Enm[)e in
I 35S !)y h'rancisco l'"ernandes, a ]ihysician who had been sent by
I'hilip II. of Spain to investigate the prtKlncts of .Mexico. While
I'ibacco first came to Enrone throngh .'^pain, the hal)it of smoking
was initiatetl and spreail by English examj)le. and .'^ir Walter
Raleigh was one of the devotee> to the nse of this weed wli ■
helped to bring it into prominence. Dnring the seventeenth
centnry its use spread with great rapidity among all the nation.
notwitliNlanding the resolute opposition of statesmen and priesl^.
and penal enactments of the most severe description.

'J'here are other specie-' nf tobaccd gn.wn to a limited exteni
in other parts of the world, but the tobacco produced on tiie
.\merican continent and in Cuba, is all made from the species
leferred to. The tobacco plant is a coarse, rank-growing annual,
which attains a height of from four to six feet, crowned with a
panicle of pink flowers and having alternate leaves which are very
large, often attaining a length of three feet or more and a pro-
pi irtion;ite width. .Although this plant is a native of South
.Vmerica, it flourishes over a very wide area and adapts itself to
many dififercnt climates. It is grow'n in most of the sonthern
.ind middle .'^tates iu the neighbouring repnblii-. and il- cultivati"n
is rapidly increasing in Canada. Tlie tobacco plain i> very
susceptible t(( \a''ia'ii.ns in elimale .ind s. lij ; nm (inl\ ;n"e ilie size
and texture of the leaves so influenced, but the rpiality, strength
.'ind flavom- are thus affected in a remarkable degree, louring the
long period this plant has been under cultivation, many different
varieties have been jirodnced, but the finer qualities of high
llavour are grown rliells- in iniiiieal dunlries with a ennipara
tively dry climate. The seeds of the high-flavoured sorts, such as
are grown in Cuba, when sown in the cooler climates of the east-
ern States or ("auada ]'iii(lnce plain^; of nmch less tlavmu- and of a
different texture. Nevertheless, many useful commercial varieties
can be grown in the cooler climates of this coinitn-.

6

The census vi Laiuula in 1891 shows a total pnnhict in all the
provinces of 4,277,936 pounds, of wliicii about 90 per cent was
thrown in the iirovinoe of Quebec. Most of this crop was culti-
\ateil ni small anas, nuvly exceeding a few acres on any one farm.
l^ecenily the cultivation of tobacco has increased very rapidly m
western Ontario, especially in the county of Essex. Walker .'^oiis,
.11 W alkerville, were ainonj; the i)ioneers in this industry, and
have for some years past had the larj^est tobacco farm in the I )o-
minion. In 181)7 dicy had 130 acres undc-r this crop. .\ considiT-
able number of larmcrs in the neighbourhood of Leamin);ton.
(^nt., have of late entered on the cultivation of this plant, .c^rowinc;-
from 5 to JO acres each. It is estimated that about l,oo(j acres
of land were devoted to the .q-rowini;- of tobacco in that part •>(
Msse.x in iS()7, and that about 40 car loads of cured leaf wen-
.shipped from that district. It is believed that a much larger ar"a
will be planted during the coniincr season.

SOir, AND ITS IMU:rAU \Tlo.V.

The soil most suitable for a tobacco croi) is a deep rich friable
loam, dry and warm, which can be easily worked up into a Ihu;
and mellow condition. While a rich sandy soil is usually pre-
ferred, the crop often docs equally well on a loamy clay, provided
it is of such a porous and open character as will admit of its beint;-
brought into a tine condition of tilth ; tobacco does not usuallv
succeed well on a heavy clay. When grcnvn on the heavier classes
of soil the jilants pncUice a thick leaf more suitable for the maun
factme (H chewing tobacco, and when grown on lighter sandy
.-oils a thin or liglit kaf more suitable for the making of cigars.
The tobacco plant grows vcr}' rapidly and is a gross feeder and
neecW ;ui abundant .'■upplv of plant food, hence, in the preparation
iif the soil for this crop barn-yard manure is used very liberally.
Abiiut thirty twn luir-r Im.-kU, nr lU'iVe. per acre aw ;ip]ilieil dufiug
tile wiiuer or early in the spring and pluuglu'd under. Subse-
i|Uenil\- the land i.^ l.j'rrowed-usuallv with a ili>eharn)\\ fi'Uii
time til time uii'.il the soil is thorougiilv atid tnu'ly i)ulverizei! in
a deptli I if ab.int tlrei inches. Wood ashe^ iua\- alsn ln' fiTel\
Use.] with umcii benefit to this cri ip.

-owixi; 'nil'; siot:!).

Tiiliacco seed is smnetiines siiwn in hot-beds, sometimes in cnM
frames and occasionally in open ground. The first method has
l)cen practised at the Central Experimental Farm at Ottawa ai:d
is the plan usnaHv followed in the province of Quebec, b'P in
western ( )ntario, where the season is longer, although hotbeis
are fref|ucmly used, the sowing of the seed in cold fratne-; and
open beds is not uncommon.

In preparing a hot-bed select a southern or south-eastern ex-
posure sheltered nn the north, and dig out a s\rdcc 5 feet bv 12, or
any required length, to the depth of 18 inches. Place 3 or 4 inches
of straw in the bottom and cover with fresh manure from the
horse stable 10 the rlepth of M or 10 inches treading it rlown well.

Cover with good rich loamy soil to i depth of 4 or 5 inches, and
pack it firin. Allow this to statul lor a few days to heat up and
then rake the bed smooth, when it will be ready to receive the
seed. Where a hot-hcd is used, the seed may be sown in row i
from 4 to () inches apart, or broadcast, having previously been
mix(<l with ashtis or cornmcal so as to ensure more evenness in
sowing. If sown broadcast the surface should afterwards be press-
ed liriniy by i)l'i,-ing a board about one iool wide and nearly llie
lengili 111 tile liel. on ihi surface of the ni-wly-sovvti ground, and
walking ovi'r it, then move the board so as to press another fiot,
and so on, until the whole bed is evenly pressed. Then cover wi'li
tVanies either gl.r-v-d 01 covered with cotton to |)rotect from colil
and frost and sprinkle the surface often enough with water or
weak li(|uid nia!nn"e to kci'p it nioisl. < it-rniinatiou takes pl.ice in
about ten days, and in from twenty to thirty ilavs after the plan's
appear, they should be large enough to transplant

Where the seed is sown in cold frames or open beds, a slieltered
position is desirable.with a southern ex])osure. Upon the plot select •
ed, brush is usually burnt until the soil is made liot enough to kil!
the seeds of grass and weeds near the surface. When the soil lias thus
i)ecn baked to the depth of abrut half an inch and the lied h;i-;
cooled, the surface is stirred with hoe or spade to the depth of 2
or 3 inches. Well-rotted manure is then spread over the ground
and raked and worked mitil it has become tlioroughly mixed, and
the whole made mellow and tine. Mix carefully one tablesijoonful
of seed with about a quart of ashes and sow broadcast. This
quantity is sut'ticient for a bed ten feet scjuare, and sho'.dd furni>h
plaiUs eiunigh for an acre of land. Urush or rake tlie seeil in
very lightly and use a light roller to make the surface compact,
smooth and even, or jiress the surface smooth with a board in the
maimer reconuiieiuled fo,' the sowing in hot-bc 1:;. I'se c ict. n
covered frames or cover with light brush thick enouL^n
to afford some shade to the young plants and to pri •
tect them from tlrying winds, and water from time 10
time as iiceded tn keep the ground moist. Kei'p the plants hee
from weeds and thin them out where necessary to avoid crowding.
Sometimes the seed is sprouted before sowing. This may 'le
done by mixing it with some fine mould and placing it near a
stove or in some other warm place and keeping it moist for four
or live days, ."-^ow it as soon as it can be seen to have sjirouted.
By adopting this plan some time may he saved, but it is not
generally recommended. The time of sowing will vary in different
localities, ranging in Canada from the 1st to the 15th of April, and
the young platits will be ready to put out from the 25th of May
to the loth of June. The seed bed should be large enough to
permit of a sufik-ient number of plants of the same size being
taken from it to complete the planting of the desired area at one
operation, so that the subsequent growth mav be even and regular.
There shoidd also be a suq:)lus left sufficient to fill the vacancies
caused by failure.

PT. ANTING.

The plants are usually put out in rows about 4 feet apart and
from 2/ J to 3T/J feet apai-t in the rows. Where practicable, the o ms

s

sliuuld niii mil th and south so that cacli i)Iaiit may got the largest
amount ui sunshine. The places for the plants in the rows are
usually indicated by rumiing over the ground with a corn marker.
Some prefer to lidge the ground before planting, and claim that
subsequent cultivation can be carried on '..ith less injury to th-J
plants where this method is practised. If the ground be flat f»r
heavy this plan is preferred, but on lighter soils with good drain-
age the plants m.iy be successfully grown either with or witliout
ridging.

\Vhen the plants in the seed bed arc 4 to 5 inches high and the
hugcbl leaves from .i to jy^ inches wide they are ready for tiu-
held. Before any are lifted the bed should be thoroughly
>[iniU<ie(l uitii walei- >> • lli;it llie larili nia\ adlurr to tiir iikii-.
A cloudy day after a shower of rain is preferred for transplanting,
but i' the plaiUs are carefully removed with a ball of earth attached
tu the roots of each they may be set out with fair success, pni-
viucd the ground is reasonably moist, without waiting for such
specially favourable conditions. Small i)lanls should not be used,
it is better to wait a few days until they are of the proper size.
When i)Iauting, a l)asl<et of jilants is carried by a boy uj) between
the rows when one is dropped at ea.'h side where indicated by the
marker I llie iiiou ii How ami pm tlieiii m ilie ,l;1"Iiii(I. ii>mt^ .i
planting peg or the finger for this purin^se, pressing the earth
carefully about the roots. Where the platUation is very large, a
piantiiig machine is somctinu-s used. Messrs. Walker Sons usi.
till' r«emis' plainer by whicli with > im^ pair i if horses, driver and tWd
men to tend the machine, ahmit twmty thousand plants may bo
Set i)er (lay.

S()me experiments liave been tried at the Central Experimental
I'.irni as t(j the effects (if twice trans[)lanting. The plants were
pricked out from the hot-lx'd to cold frames, where they were
set in rows 8 inches apart, and about 3 inches apart in the rows, and
after they had grown strong and stocky they were transjilanted to
the held. It was observed that when treated in this way the plant.s
grew more rapidly and there were fewer failures in planting than
when they were transplanted directly from the hot-bed to the field.
The yield of leaf was also larger. When transplanting from tlie
bods the thinning should be so carried out as to give the remain-
ing plants more room and thus permit of a spreading stockv
growth.

m,TI\ATION".

.\fter plantin--, the grt imul should Ik- stirred with a 1 lue-horse cul-
tivator about imcc in ten or twelve days, so as t(i keep the land
thoroughly clean from weeds, and in a porous and mellow cond'-
tion. Frequent cultivation will also induce more favourable con-
ditions of moistm-e. This should be continued as long as the
cultivator can be passed through the rows without injuring the
]ilants. After \]u<. a> tlu ink it -Of the planls will then almost fill
the space between the rows, the ground should he kept clean by
shallow hoeing-.

u

I'HIMINO AND TUl'I'l.NU.

1j\ ilic word '• i>riiiiiiig: " is meant, tlic iviiioval (jf tlic lower or
priniar)- leaves which coiik' out too near the grouiul, and often
touch the surface and become lorn and sand) . it is an advantage
til do this work carlv. su that llic pianl^ may not unnece^sariK lose
strength by their growth. The distance from the giound this
liriniiiiL; siiouKl b- <l(.ni depi'iids soniewiiat on the \aiifly, but tlie
bottom of the stalk is usually stripped to a height of from 4 to 6
inches from the ground.

Topping is the removal of the flower stalk with one or more
ttf the upper and smaller leaves. This is done to tlirt)w the
strength of the plant which would otherwise go to the production
of seed, into the more perfect development of the leaves. The
plant is ready to top when the "button," as the blossom is called,
lias grown long ciKntgh to be taken hold of without injuring the
upper leaves of the plant. As the plants do not all blossom at the
same time, it is usual to let those stalks which bli.om first run
a little I)eyond the usual time of topping, so that all may be topped
at the one operation. The top? when broken off should be thrown
between the rows and .allowed to decay. The number of leaves
left on the stem at the time of topping varies from ten to sixteen
or eighteen, depending on the variety grown ; if topped too high
the upper leaves are apt to be too small to be of much value. As
tlie leaves of the tol)acco plant arc arranged on tb.e stem in eignt
perpendicular ranks, the ninth leaf stands directly over the first.
'This fact will assist the operator in determining the number of
leaves on a stalk without counting them.

SUCKRRIN-O.

.\i\vv tii|)])ini;. " m ckt r- " Nimn bcs^in tn ui'nu. ^ho'itmg "Ut
from the stalk on the upper side of each leaf at the base, those at
the top starting fiist. As soon as they are large enough to be
pulled they should be promptly removed, othenvise much of the
>lri'ngth iif ibe pl.am will In- I^st and lln' maturing of tlu' ero])
delayed. Should they start a second or third time, tliey should
hv again removed

SA'.'iX'"; or SF"M.

To obtain seerl for sowing the following year, a few of the
earliest, most thrifty and large-leaved stalks should be left without
topping. These will bloom and seed freely, and when the crop is
cut these stalks should be allowed to stand. As soon as the seed
pods turn to a blackisl' colour the seed will l)e nearlv matured ;
then cut off the heads and hang them up in a dry place to cure.
Later in the season strip the seed pods from the stalks, rub them
in the hand and clean the seed by sifting through a fine sieve.
Tobacco seed is said to retain its germinating power for several
\ears.

INSECT RNEMIKP.

Cutworms are sometimes very active in destroying the newly set
plants. Where these are troublesome thev may be reduced in

\M,

10

numbcM- by placing at many different points in the field small
binchcs of poisoned weeds, grass or clover. These bunches are
tieii and rendered poisonous by dipping them in a mixture of
Pans green and water in the proportion of two ounces of the
poison to a pailful of water. The cutworms take shelter under
the bundles of weeds and eat of the poisoned material and die. In
hot weather these bundles should be put out after sundown and
a shingle may be laid on each to keep it fresh. Cutworms are
tlie caterpillars cf dull coloured active moths or "millers," which
fly at night, mostly during the month of July. The caterpillars
lie hidden during the day and come out to feed ?t dusk. They
arc smooth antl naked, and arc usually of some dull shade of
greenish grey, or brown, with dusky markings. When these
caterpillars are fully grown, wliich is usually in the latter part of
June, they enter the ground and change to chrysalids, from which
the moths emerge later in the season. These deposit their eggs
on gras> or niiicr plants i ir wccils ; the young larva* hatch in al)om
a fortnight and feed uhually unobserved amid the abtnuiant growth
of summer, and wlieii they reach a length of one-half to three
quarters of an inch they bury themselves in the ground in autumn,
vhere they remain until the following spring. On emerging fmtn
their long period of torpor they become very active anil feed
greedily on almost any green plant whicli comes in their way.

Cutworms usually attack the plants about the base, and having
eaten the stem through leave the greater part of the young plant
to wilt and perish. Where a plant suddenly withers and dies, the
author of the mischief can generally be found within a few inches
of the platU. buried just below the surface of the ground. In
such cases they should be searched for and destroyed. Where
cutwofins are p' ntiful it is necessary ti) look over the plants
everv dav or two, and to promptly reset any which mav have been
killed.

After the cut worms have disappeared the caterpillar of a largo
sphinx moth, Sphinx qui/i(]jiciiuiculnfus, becomes a most trouble-
some foe to the tobacco grower. This insect spends the winter
in the chrysalis state buried in the ground. Early in June the
chr>'salis wriggles its way up to the surface, when the moth
escapes, ft tlies at dusk and in its flight much resembles a burn-
ming-binl, and ^(>o^ begins to deposit eggs. These are laid singlv
on tiie niulef --i le ui the leai. where \\\v\ liatt'h in the course oi a
few da\> when \\\v \i ung larva or " woimu " begins to feed on the
leaf, making small holes here and there in it. About the time
A hen the leaves are as large as a man's hand these caterpillars
appear. The plantation should then be gone over carefully, look-
ing at every plant. A sharp eye will detect the small holes they
make in the leaf very promptly, and on turning it up a small gresi
caterpillar will be seen t)n the under side with a projecting horn
on the hinder end of its body. These should be at once destroyed,
which may be done by crushing them between the finger ar;d
thumb. As the eggs of these caterpillars continue to be laid
during a considerable part of the season, constant watchfulness
and frequent inspection is needed to prevent injury to the crop.
Where tlie fields are neglected these caterpillars grow rapidly and

11

lat \iir;u'itiu^ly, ami a single sncciiucn will soon dc.-tr«i\- the
greater part of tiie leaves of the plant on wiiicli it has been plaood
and on several (.'tl tr': r.ear li\. When fnll j^vown this larva
i'^ ,^ inehis lonj^', nr more, and about the thickness of ttie tore-
tinj^er, j^ft'en. with paler stripes alon.q' the sides of the liody. Whei-;
distinljed it raises its head in a threatenint;' manner and lool:s
cpiite fer(.ieions, but is iiieapable of indicting any injurw

IIAKVKSTIXU.

When the leaves approach maturity they graduall\ lose their
deep green colour and assume a yellowish hue, which, in souk?
varieties, is inultled with deeper markings of the same ct>lour.
Idle veins of the leaves ijccome swollen and the substance of the
leaf feels thick ami gummy. At this stage the tip of the Kaf !)e-
comes somewhat brittle and the midrib will usually break wit;; a
clean fractiu-e if the tip is sharply doubled back ; the leaves are
then ready for harvesting. When the leaf is sufficiently matiu'ed,
the sooner it is cm the lietlrr, as il is liaiilc to injnr\ imm frosi or
other unfavourable weather. The usual method is to cut the plant
down nearly to the ground and sus])end the stalk with its le;i\es
.ittached in a suitable drying-house where, when ilried, the leaves
are slri|)ped and |;ici-cd The other method which !•- '-■ niieiiiiie-
folluwed by those who cultivate tobacco on a small scale, or wh.'i'C
labom- is ]'lentifid and cheap, is to strip the leaves fnini the plants
in the held, gatluring them as they mature and stringiu'..' them
on twine or wires attached to laths or strips in sucli a maimer as
to alhnv each strip with its load of leaves to be h;mdled separate!^'.
These .'iri' then placed in the drying-house to cuvc. \\v this jiro-
I'l'ss a belter i|n;ilil\ o| leaf i-> obtaim'(l bm al a liri^er ci i>i '<•>]■
labour.

."^onie gi'o\\e:> -plu ihe Mpriglit >\v\\\ cif U'e plant lielore culling,
with ;i sharp knife down the middle to within 4 or 5 inches >^\ the
base, then withdraw the knife and cut the stalk oti' close to ihc
ground. This plan is said to be convenient for hanging, a> 'lie
>ta'ks c:u\ be ])laced astride the strips on which they are susr.eiiled
and the leaves on stalks thus treated drv more rapidly : thev are,
however, more apt lo slip off the slicks when moving them.

Another method is to pierce through the stalks with a \ -shaped
spear made of iron or steel, with a socket large enough to admii
the vi]i\ of ;i stick on which the tobacco is to be hung. The stick
i-^ set upright on the ground, fitted with the spear at the end,
when the tobacco is lifted, one stalk at a time, and thrn-t on
the spe;ir, which passes thr()ug"h the stalk, about six inche< from
the base The sticks ;ire usnallv made .| ■ j fi'ct long, and atfurd
-i';ice I'liongh to suspend eight plants. When one stick i-^
lilled. the spear is t;iken otV ;md attached to another, and tiiis
proce>;s is continued until the plants are all hung. ( 'ther growers
]irefer \o sn^^pend the ]ilaiits by tving them to suitable sticks wiili
twine.

Cutting should begin ;is soon as the dew is off the ]ila:its
in the morning. ( iit with a hatchet or snitalile knife, grasp
the stalk with the Kli h.-md and bend if well to the left, so as

■fl •

^

mm

12

to exijosc the lower part of the stalk, and sever with the knU'e
laar the surface "f the ground, letting- the stalk drop over
wiihont duubliug the leaves under. Lay the plants on the
grMund to wilt fur an hour or two, or until the leaves lose their
brittleness and can Ix handled wiUiout breaking. Then Inad
the tobacco on a wagon, keeping the butts out on both sides
ill loading, and draw to the drying-h nise. Xo more i)lanij
should be cut than can be taken in and hung U[) the same day.
Never cut tobacco on a raim' day, as the leaves arc then sure
to get sanc'.y, which will lessen their value, and do not allow
the plants to lie long on the wagon or in a pile, as they soon
sweat and heat, which quickly injures them.

iJKVIXO.

A house 30 by 24 feet so arranged as to hang the tobacco
in four tiers is said to be large enough to give drying accon.v-
mudation to an acre of tobacco. Most growers prefer to build
llieir drying-houses tight, so that they may be closed up in unfa
\ < lurable weather. Such buildings are supplied at the base with a
number of doors, allording oijcnings large enough to admil air
freely, and ventilators are provided ainive. Drying-houses are
most commonly built from 16 to 20 feet wide, 16 feet high and 40
to 50 feet long, or longer if required. C)ccas!t)nally buildings arc
iiiL-t with which have their sides covered with boards so placed a-
to leave an inch or more of si)ace between each to provide for
free access of eiir. This, however, does not alford sufhcient j^ro-
tection in case of unfavourable weather. Whatever method
may lie used for hanging the stalks, they are ])laced on the stick-
about 5 inches apart, leaving eight or nine stalks on a stick,
and the sticks are so arranged as to leave a space of S or i) inche-
])etween them.

When the plants are sufficiently dried, which is known bv
the stems becoming of a brown colour and breaking when bent,
the tobacco is ready for stripping. Danij) weather is chosen for
this oi)eration, when the damj) air is freely .-idmitted and the
leaves absorb moisture so that th.ey can j^e handled without
breakinc;-. The operator pulls the leaves from the stalks one by
one, until he gets what is technically called a "hand," whicji
consists of from twelve to sixteen leaves, when these are fastened
together by a good leaf folded to two or three inches in width,
and wound around the base and secured by tucking the end
under. During the stri]iping the leaves are separated into two
gr.'ules according to 'i/e ;ind snundness — all the torn and inimed
leaves, as well ;t; ihe small and less matured s]X'cinicns, forming
the second crrade.

nui.KtNT,.

After the tobacco is stripped it is packed down each d.ay where
ir will be secure from drving winds or wet. The "hands" are
placed witli butt'^ out and the leaves overlapping at the tips
fcr about one-third of their length, laying- one row of btitts one
wav. then aimth'^- np the opposite, keeping them straight and

13

even to prcvciu llic air fnun drying ilie material. The " liamls "'
arc pressed together by kiieelint;' on tlieni while packing, and
when the piles have reached a convenient heiLrht, say 3 to 4 feet,
they are weighted with heavy plar.ks on top stj as to press the
material down as compact as pcjssible. The pile is then covered
with some tahrie or material sr.cii as blankets or sacking to pre-
vent tlic drying of the exposed parts, and in this condition it is
allowed to remain al)out a month dnring which time the curing
or "sweating" process goes on by which when properly attended
to the leaves acquire a miiform colour. The bulking is foil nveil
i)y an increase of Icmpcrature in die pile, which sliould be
watched, and when a thermometer placeil in the '■eiure of the
iieap indicates ;', temperature of 100 to no i'ahr., or when the heat
is uncomfortable to the hand when introduced, the "bulk" should
Ijc opened ami rearranged so that the outer and upper tiers may
be brought to the centre. In this way the heat is lessened and the
curing process proceeds evenly and uniformly throughout '.he
pile. When the tobacco is tiiorouglily cured the " bulk " is (opened
and the material arranged more loosely and graduall}' cocjled whi'ii
the tobacco will be ready for market. W hen disposed of, it is
usually packed in bales of about too lbs. each, tirmly pressed to-
gether and enclosed in sacking.

V.VIUKTI'OS.

Among the earliest and bes*: yielding varieties tested at the Ex-
i)erimental Farm are : White Jurley, Connecticut Seed Leaf, Penn-
>ylvania Seed Leaf, Lryor Yellow, Climax, Yellow .Mam-
moth, Oronok) \ eliow, .Safrann, r>ra/.ilian ami Canadian.
In 1896 the \\ hill- llurle} grown at the Lxperinienial
l'"arm was matured and partly harvested, when a >harp frost
(iccurred in beptember, which greatly injured the later sorts.
The White Burley is much grown in the Province of Quebec, ar.d
is also the variety most extensively cultivated in western CJntario.
The Connecticut Seed Leaf stands probably next in public favour,
and is well spoken of generally. Messrs. Walker Sons have
I'ound the White Burle\- and Connecticut Seed Leaf the mcst
|)rotitable varieties to grow, and think that a fair average of the
\ield of these varieties, taking one season witli another, would
be about i,8(x:) lbs. of cured t()l)acco ])er acre 1 )r. ( i. LaRu(.|ue,
late \I.P. for Chambly County, Quebec, in his excellent little
i)ook on "Culture et Preparation du Tabac ' gives the crop rif
the different varieties grown in Quebec as ranging from 900 10
1,500 lbs, per acre, while Mr. M. G. Bnmer of OHnda, Ont.'irio,
istimatcs tlie crop about Leamington at from 1,000 to i.roo lbs.
I>cr acre. Where the same varieties are grown the yield in every
rase will depend much on the quality of the land and the quantify
■ if manure which has been used. In the small experimental plots
at the Central Experimental I'arm, the v.eight of crop has been
estimated in dififerent seasons from about 1.500 to 2.500 'bs. <ty
more per acre.

i

14

■l'(tBA('(U AN KXHAUSTING CKKl'.

I'rom tlie reports wliich have been publislied of chemical
analyses of the leaves and stalks of the tobacco plant, it is evident
that' this crop draws heavily on the potash in the soiL It is
also a considerable consumer of nitrogen and of hme. On such
land as is frequentlv used for this crop, the ploughmg under of
clover to enrich the soil, large applications of barn-yard manure,
lil)eral dressings of wood ashes or of salts of potash, and an
occasional application of lime, will all be found beneficia!. As
tlie sialks take from the soil about the same proportion of the
fertilizing constituents as the leaves, the exhausting efifect of
this crop on the land mav be lessened by allowing the stalks
to remain on the gromKl' to decay and then ploughing them

under. . , t. • i i

In the pieparation of this bulletin the wnter has been aided
b\- \alued information from Walker Sons, of Walkerville, Out.,
from John McXutt, Ruthyen, Ont.. and other practical tobacco
growers both in Quebec and Ontario. Free use las also been
made of the information gained by the comparative test of var-
ieties carried on for several years by the Horticulturist at the
Central Experimental Farm.